cows and wallows

[Elknut1]

 Instinct, yes it appears to be a lot of action there at the water source, but it is with an elks hoof & lots of them! It is a water hole & not a wallow, it has very little characteristics of a wallow as well. The main use of a wallow is wallowing! Yes, they can drink it as well as urinate in it or stomp around in it or thrash their antlers in & around it but mainly it is for wallowing purposes!

  It is water sources as this & bigger ones that fool a lot of hunters, they see at these regularly & think it's a wallow being hit by many elk in the area.

  Here's a true wallow, notice the dished out sides where rolling & splashing of mud is everywhere, the evidence shows the difference from a wallow & a waterhole!

  ElkNut1

[Elknut1]

Here's another wallow, notice the small downed tree there, it was uprooted by a bull there & now it is splashed & coated with mud where he rolled in it & flung the mud with his antlers!

  ElkNut1

[Elknut1]

Here's a different photo that is a waterhole, compare the evidence there!

  ElkNut1

[DoubleJ]

Questions.

1.  Do bulls piss in their wallows?

2.  Are bulls territorial over wallows?

3.  depending on 1 and 2, would it be benificial to spray bull in rut piss all over a wallow hole while sitting there?

4.  If sitting on a wallow, what noises should be made, if any?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Those pictures show what I was talking about ! see all those clumps of mud ?
big difference.

[ribka]

Questions.

1.  Do bulls piss in their wallows?

2.  Are bulls territorial over wallows?

3.  depending on 1 and 2, would it be benificial to spray bull in rut piss all over a wallow hole while sitting there?

4.  If sitting on a wallow, what noises should be made, if any?

Based upon my observations  and trail cams at wallows. I see cows, calves using wallows in the really hot weather  in end of July and Aug .  Depends on the year and amount of water in the area too I think

However they do not seem to roll around and stay in them as much as bulls.
Bulls seem territorial of wallows starting in Sept. I do not notice as many cows calves in wallows in Sept.

 Do not know why

[carpsniperg2]

We have been by ton's of wallows in September. I have yet to see any elk around here use a wallow in September. They shred them the end of July and Aug but when September comes they don't seem to touch them I know the bulls start moving around because of the limited numbers of cows/elk in our area. So that may be the cause for it 

[Pathfinder101]

Excellent tutorial Elknut.  great food for thought...

[gasman]

We have been by ton's of wallows in September. I have yet to see any elk around here use a wallow in September. They shred them the end of July and Aug but when September comes they don't seem to touch them I know the bulls start moving around because of the limited numbers of cows/elk in our area. So that may be the cause for it 

Now that I think about it. I do not ever recall finding a wallow in use durring archery season. It is always durring my scouting that I find wallows with fresh mud spread around them.

[Elknut1]

STIKNSTRINGBOW, you are 100% correct!

  Patfinder, thanks!

 
1.  Do bulls piss in their wallows?

2.  Are bulls territorial over wallows?

3.  depending on 1 and 2, would it be benificial to spray bull in rut piss all over a wallow hole while sitting there?

4.  If sitting on a wallow, what noises should be made, if any?

  Double J---
  #-1--Yes, it's very common for them to do this as well as drink out of them, they're not proud! (grin)

  #-2---At times you bet they are! If they are bedded nearby & are in an aggressive mood Bulls can come thundering to a wallow where they feel another bull is present or on his way in! On other less aggressive times more than one bull will share a wallow! Other bulls may be resident bulls that rarely leave the area!

  #-3--I would not do that personally, my main interest is to get them to come to the wallow while I was there at my stand or blind, a trail camera at various wallows can best show activity of use & times! Active wallows are a must, anything else is a waste of time! Wallows are mostly used the last week of August & 1st two weeks of Sept. no matter if they're Rosies or Rockies! Wallows are used fo cooling off, ridding insects, looking more dominant to other bulls & impressing cows! Too, bulls can cycle wallows, some can be hit daily others every 2nd-3rd-4th day etc. Sitting an active wallow 5-6 straight days will generally net you action although a waterhole will net more action in the same time frame!

  #-4---Calling at wallows must not fall on deaf ears or it's to no avail! If a bull is bedded nearby it can be a great strategy, he may come thundering screaming in or wait patiently for an hour or two before slipping in to check on who was there! When calling at a wallow I like representing who & what I am, I want to be big as I can be & thrash around raking & splashing the wallow from mild to violently as if I'm rolling in it. When I bugle I do not use a location bugle, I get down right nasty with powerful screams letting any bulls know but especially the cows within earshot that I'm a dominant feature in the area to be considered as a potential breeder, this means a lot to both genders & can peak curiosity. Any bulls around will want to know who this new bull is, he will want to smell him or where he was there for identification.
   Many times a bull will bugle his way to you 1/2 hour later or much longer as you silently wait at the wallow after all the commotion you presented, when this happens do not bugle back, he wants to know if you're still there, make him think you left by not responding. It's a 50/50 chance he may still come in if you bugle back or he may leave, fact is he wanted to come in & investigate so let him do so without feeling he may get into a confrontation!

  ElkNut1

 

[sebek556]

great info! i will keep this in mind while scouting this year